Siege of Mediolanium (268 BC)

The Siege of Mediolanium occurred in 268 BC. An army of Roman Republic troops under the command of Flavius Julius, following orders from the Senate and People of Rome (SPQR), conquered the Gaulish city of Mediolanium in an attack that resulted in the Gauls fighting to the death.

History
In the winter of 269 BC, the Roman Senate issued a mission to the House of Julii, asking them to conquer the settlement of Mediolanium. Defended by the Gauls, the sworn enemies of the Julii, Mediolanium and neighboring Patavium (Padua) were cut off from Gaul proper (present-day France and northern and central Spain) by Roman territory. Flavius Julius decided to avenge the wounding of his grandfather by leading an army of 300 troops against the city, besieging 149 Gauls under Eporedorix and Belenus.

The Romans constructed two battering rams, but only one was used; the crew of the other were ordered to abandon their equipment after the first one reached the walls safely. The Roman forces breached the walls and charged in, with their cavalry riding down the Gallic warriors like grass. Eporedorix and Belenus gathered their warriors in the square of Mediolanium, and the Roman forces slaughtered the Gauls as they fought to the death. 40 Roman troops were slain, while all of the brave Gaulish warriors fell to the swords of the Roman army. Mediolanium was taken over, and in 267 BC, Patavium fell.